TOO late.
This was the reaction of at least three senators who shrugged off another attempt at the House of Representatives to change the 1987 Constitution and extend the term of office of elected officials.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said there is not enough time to convene both houses of Congress into a constituent assembly to discuss the proposal to make longer the terms for the president, vice president, members of the House of Representatives and local officials.
”Parliamentary ethics dictate that I do not question the motive of a fellow legislator but what I can say is ‘it’s too late in the day.’ They should try that in the 19th Congress. Good luck,” Sotto said in dismissing the proposal of
Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr.
Last Friday, Gonzales, who belongs to the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan faction of Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, filed a proposal seeking to give the president a term of five years with one re-election, or a total of 10 years, instead of the present one six-year term without re-election.
Gonzales also wants the term of the vice president extended similar to the president’s, while House members would be elected for five years and will be given a chance for re-election, instead of the present three years with two re-elections.
Gonzales also said governors and city or town mayors should be voted for a five-year term and a chance for re-election.
Senators and barangay officials were excluded from the proposal.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said there is no more time to tackle Charter Change since the present 18th Congress only has nine regular session days left when it resumes sessions this month.
Based on the legislative calendar, Congress will resume regular sessions on January 17 and will adjourn anew on February 4. Both houses of Congress will convene on May 23 to June 3 to sit as the National Canvassing Board for the presidential and vice presidential elections.
The 19th Congress will convene on July 25.
“I don’t think there’s still time to tackle any measure that involves Charter Change. Kung noon ngang mga nakaraang taon, hindi nangyari — lalo na ngayon that we have only 9 session days left, not including the joint session of Congress to convene as the National Canvassing Board for President and Vice President (I don’t think there’s still time to tackle any measure that involves Charter Change. It did not happen in the past years, and it won’t happen this time considering that we only have nine session days left, not including the joint session of Congress to convene as the National Canvassing Board for President and Vice President),” Lacson said.
